As of September 1, the Getty Museum will have a new director, a position that has been empty since the departure of Michael Brand over two years ago.

The incoming director will be Dr. Timothy Potts, a native of Sydney, Australia, and current director of the Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge in England.

Potts is no stranger to American museums, having been the director of the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, from 1998 to 2007. 

Potts’ specialty is ancient art and archeology of the Mediterranean and Near (or Middle) East and he has written a number of books on these subjects.  His appointment is the latest in a number of senior gallery appointments that have been made recently at the Getty.

The Getty is one of the world’s wealthiest museums, possessing a hefty endowment that allows the museum to be competitive in purchasing art.  It has seen its share of struggles over the years; beginning in 1999 and continuing into the 2000s the museum has had to return a plethora of objects deemed stolen, and has been embroiled in scandal regarding the sale of illicit antiquities. The amount of time between directors has been a cause of concern as well. 

Potts, who is also known for his administrative abilities and business acumen, is excited to take hold of the reins, saying, “The great attraction of the Getty is that it's a place where you can think big, frankly more than any other institution."

(Report: Christine Bolli for ARTFIXdaily)